Ill Wiggins pulls out of Giro

Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has pulled out of the Giro d'Italia because of a chest infection.

Wiggins' presence in the race had been in doubt after the ailing Team Sky leader lost more time on Thursday, leaving the British Tour de France winner more than five minutes adrift of leader Vincenzo Nibali in 13th place.

"Due to a worsening chest infection, the decision was taken for Wiggins not to start the race's 13th stage on Friday from Busseto to Cherasco," Team Sky said in a statement.

Wiggins had struggled in the race after a head cold turned into a chest infection.

"We monitored Bradley overnight and this morning we've withdrawn him from the Giro after consulting the team doctor," team principal Dave Brailsford said.

"Bradley will return to the UK today for treatment and to rest and we hope to have him back on the road as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, defending champion Ryder Hesjedal has withdrawn from this year's race prior to the start of Friday's stage 13.

The Canadian Hesjedal, riding for Garmin-Sharp, had slipped to 38th place after 12 stages, 32 minutes and 55 seconds down on Nibali of Italy after suffering badly in the first mountain stages of the race last weekend.

"It's heartbreaking," Hesjedal said in a statement.

"I want to be here for my team and for all the people who have supported me to get me here to this point.

"I built my entire season around the Giro and I came here feeling great, but I have been suffering since the (stage eight) TT (individual time trial).

"We're working on it but we're not sure what's wrong. There's a virus that's been going around, so it could be that, or severe allergies."

Hesjedal became his country's first Giro d'Italia winner when he edged out Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez by 16 seconds after a ferocious two-week duel through the mountains.

Friday's 254-kilometre stage favours the sprinters and runs from Busseto to Cherasco with this year's race finishing in Brescia on May 26.